Democrats' Strategy Backfires as Limbaugh's Ratings Double

It wasn't supposed to happen this way.

The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have been pursuing a strategy of tying elected Republicans to Rush Limbaugh, concocted in hopes of painting Republican opposition to the Administration's policy proposals as extremist. And while the questions posed to Republicans by willing Democratic allies in the media may have made some of them uncomfortable, they have also served as a boon to Limbaugh's ratings.

The conservative radio host, and liberal scourge, reports that his ratings have nearly doubled since Democrats began their campaign to marginalize him. Revenues are up as well. Limbaugh told the Washington D.C. Examiner that he has booked 80 percent of his total for all of 2008, and expects to surpass that mark by the end of March. Things are so good for him right now, even the White House had to admit its attacks on Limbaugh were becoming "counterproductive."

The danger for Democrats is that the increased attention they have focused on Limbaugh drives more people to listen to him, many for the first time. Limbaugh is a very eloquent, entertaining, and persuasive broadcaster that has commanded the largest audience in talk radio for twenty years. The more people that listen to him, the better the chances that more Americans will find some truth in his arguments against the Administration. And that could result in a lessening of the public's trust in the president's policies.

For now, with each passing day the Democrats focus on him, Limbaugh is laughing all the way to the bank. Democrats hope that voters newly exposed to his message don't end up laughing right along with him all the way to the ballot box.